The offices of the Reproduction and Child Health Alliance are closed this month due to a gap in funding as the organization shifts to official NGO status.
“We’re not closed, but we have certainly shut down our activities as much as possible,” RACHA Program Manager Richard Sturgis said. The staff of 142 are on paid vacation, with a handful working part time to continue essential projects like fieldwork outreaches.
RACHA was previously a project of New York-based NGO Engenderhealth, and received US Agency for International Development funding through Engenderhealth.
RACHA is now in the process of gaining NGO status to receive funding directly from USAID. “The benefit is that we can develop something of sustainablilty without indirect overhead costs. This is much less expensive,” said Sturgis.
In the meantime, the heap of international paperwork required for such a shift was not completed by the Sept 30 close of the US government’s fiscal year, leaving RACHA short on funding until official contract maneuvers are completed. “It’s crummy when it happens,” said Sturgis, “but instead of causing layoffs, management decided that a hiatus would be best for everyone.”
Some employees seem confused as to the specific funding mechanisms causing their vacation. “We are closed for one month because of a funding delay,” said an employee who asked not to be named. “It’s funding from US donors, USAID.”
A spokesperson for the US Embassy was emphatic that the closing is unrelated to USAID. “My understanding is that RACHA is not closed due to funding reasons, but because of a personal decision for staff to take leave. USAID funding will continue, as far as I know.”
RACHA receives USAID funding for family planning, condom and birth-control-pill distribution and post-abortion care for injured women, but not actual abortions. RACHA plans to reopen Dec 1.
